Why Shannon is a Time-bomb

national | eu | opinion/analysis Wednesday February 15, 2006 00:31 by Liam Mullen - Freelance Journalist

Noam Chomsky’s recent visit to Ireland highlighted yet again the dilemma the Irish government faces in whether to accept American assurances that no rendition flights passed through Shannon Airport. As a close economic partner of the US, the Irish government faces embarrassment if it decides to call Condoleezza Rice’s bluff, and insist on checking American flights landing in Shannon.

It’s no secret that much of the Irish growth that contributed to the so-called ‘Celtic Tiger’ has been fuelled by the influx of American investment – Big Pharma companies like Viagra and electronic companies like Intel – which have directly contributed to Irish GDP figures, and companies which Bertie Ahern’s government have no wish to antagonise. Chomsky’s assertion that Ireland might be assisting the US in a ‘war-crime’ makes for uncomfortable reading, and leaves the Irish government out on a limb if it accepts American assurances.
However pressure from Europe to check these flights, and pressure from within from left of centre parties like the Greens and Labour may force Bertie Ahern’s hand. With a General Election looming in 2007, Ahern won’t want clouds hanging over his administration.
According to a report in April 2005, published by the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency before the National Commission on Terrorist attacks upon the United States, a number of ‘renditions’ took place prior to the tragic events of September 11th. It remains unclear if the assurances given by Condoleezza Rice to the Irish government extend back this far.
Shannon could yet blow up in the Irish government’s faces.